A Front Row Seat At A
Live Mario Lanza Concert
By Sam Samuelian
3-27-7

Listening to this new release of Mario's Royal Albert
Hall concert in London on January 16, 1958 is just like having a front
row seat. Exciting is the best word to describe the experience of listening
to this new CD. It was recorded on the huge old Tandberg tape recorders
of the time and this is a transfer from a British master tape that captures
every nuance. Besides hearing the Lanza voice with bright clarity and the
rich baritonal quality he had developed by that period in his life, you
hear all his asides to Callinicos, his accompanist. You hear him humming
before some songs and even hear him making little whimper like sounds at
times. All his song introductions are intact and audience reactions are
all there (many times they laugh, so Mario must have been entertaining
them with his motions).

Earlier releases of this concert required one to use
headphones to hear the subtle nuances that are captured here. From Mario's
first spoken words ("Is this real?") upon walking out into the
huge hall until the encore when he turns his back to sing to people behind
him, you will be thoroughly entertained. This program runs a full 65 minutes
and is exactly how the audience heard it originally. It is unedited with
the exception of the piano solos that Callincos performed that night. The
audience excitement grew steadily and at the end they are stamping their
feet for Mario.

The program consists of the following numbers:

1-Lamento di Federico

2-Lasciatemi morire

3-Gia il sole dal Gange

4-Pieta, Signore

5-Tell Me, O Blue, Blue Sky

6-Bonjour, ma belle (Mario fluffs one line and Callincos
helps him!)

7-The House on the Hill

8-E lucevan le stelle

9-Mamma mia, che vo' sape?

10-A Vuchella

11-Marechiare

12-Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise

13-I'm Falling In Love with Someone

14-Because You're Mine (thrilling ending!)

15-Seven Hills of Rome

16-La donna e mobile

The CD has black and white photographs front and back.
Front cover has Mario standing in front of the Steinway piano with Callinicos.
Back cover shows the enormity of the hall and the thousands of people crowded
into the venue. The CD itself has a photo of the famous Lanza singing stance
with this hands held out. This is the sharpest and clearest recording you
will ever hear of the precious few Lanza live performances. Cost is $22.00
shipped to USA and a few dollars more for foreign orders. Write to Sam
Samuelian at sms@bee.net for more information.